5 Skills Every HVAC Technician Needs

Want an interesting, fulfilling career that will always have jobs available?

Becoming an HVAC technician is a great way to ensure your skills will always be in demand.

In this field, you’ll use practical skills that people readily pay good money for. You’ll even be able to do more work around the house for you and your family using your knowledge.

This is a practical, hands-on career that can be very rewarding, as well as lucrative. Wondering what it takes to get started?

In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about becoming an HVAC technician, including the 5 essential skills you need to succeed. Read on to learn more!

What is an HVAC Technician?

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.

This job will have you installing, repairing, and working on equipment people use at home and work every day.

From heaters and air conditioners to ventilation and refrigeration systems, you’ll learn to work with the many different methods of controlling indoor air quality.

Nearly every indoor location has some sort of HVAC system. Even storage facilities may need air quality control.

You’ll travel to various locations to work. Once there, you’ll need to know how to repair different types of HVAC systems depending on the design. Each job is slightly different, so you’ll always have interesting new challenges to face.

Repairing, replacing, and installing systems will all be part of a day’s work. This is a great job that offers plenty of variety, so you’ll never get bored.

How to Become an HVAC Technician

The steps to becoming a technician depend on where you live. Different states have different requirements.

However, there are a few steps that are almost always necessary.

You’ll start with some kind of education and training. There are different educational training programs, as well as some on-the-job options. You might participate in an apprenticeship after completing your training.

Because you’ll be working with potentially dangerous equipment, this education is important.

It’s helpful to have a high school diploma or GED, so you can attend an HVAC associate’s degree program at a local college, trade school, or technical school. The proper education is crucial to getting a job in this field.

Programs last from six months to two years, so plan ahead to give yourself the right amount of time to get your certificate.

Ready to learn the most important skills an HVAC technician needs to have? Keep reading – some of them may surprise you!

1. Ability to Work in Uncomfortable Situations

One of the top skills you’ll need is to be able to work in less-than-ideal situations.

Think about it: you’re repairing the equipment that helps keep people comfortable. When someone needs a furnace repair or a new air conditioning system, that can mean the space you’ll be working in is too cold or too hot.

You might also need to work in tight, uncomfortable spaces. Reaching the system that needs fixing might mean putting yourself in an uncomfortable position.

It’s essential that you can work in somewhat unpleasant conditions, since they may become a daily part of your job. However, you will also get the satisfaction of knowing you can fix the problem and help keep people comfortable and healthy.

2. Knowledge of Government Regulations

At times, you may find yourself handling gases, refrigerants, and other potentially toxic or hazardous materials.

You’ll need to know the regulations for the proper and safe disposal of these materials, so you can protect yourself, your clients, and the environment.

3. Communication Skills

This job doesn’t just take technical know-how. It also requires customer service.

You’ll need to know how to communicate calmly and effectively with your clients. Keep in mind that they may be stressed out because things aren’t working like they’re supposed to.

Things will go much smoother at work if you know how to calm your clients down and explain what the problem is, and what your approach is for fixing it.

Most clients won’t know the technical terms of the industry. You’ll need to be able to explain things to them in ways they can understand. Knowing how to ask the right kind of questions to diagnose the problem is another important skill.

You may even need to do a bit of sales. Often, selling service contracts is part of the job. If you can make a good impression on customers, you’ll sell more contracts, making more money for you and your employer.

4. Ability to Think on Your Feet

You’ll be doing a lot of literal thinking on your feet – this job can require a lot of standing.

However, you’ll also need to figuratively think on your feet – or be able to troubleshoot as new problems come up.

A job may not always be as straightforward as it seems. When you discover a new issue, or when it starts to look like the problem is different than what you originally thought, some quick, creative thinking will help you get the job done.

The faster you can figure out the problem with an HVAC system and devise the right approach to fixing it, the more effective you will be as a technician.

5. Computer Skills

Of course, working as an HVAC technician means you’ll need to use many different tools. A computer is one of them.

More and more employers are now using software systems to keep track of assignments and clients. And a lot of HVAC systems are actually controlled or monitored by computers.

Knowing the technology is part of the job. Although you won’t be working at a desktop all day long, some computer skills are needed to repair HVAC systems in the modern day.

Start a Your Career Today

Becoming an HVAC technician is an excellent career choice. There will always be HVAC systems, and there will always be people needed to repair and replace them.

This job requires a lot of skills, from creativity to customer service. But for the right kind of person, it’s a fun, rewarding, and challenging career.